CSX-Transformation

[Dan15]

In the fall of 08' I picked up a 1988 Shelby CSX-T #907 for $350
-No motor, and lots of missing parts, but 2 long blocks :thumb:
-Interior was in pieces but it had all the parts needed to reassemble it.
-Exterior was in rough shape with a black hood, peeling paint and a cracked grill.

It was my first turbo dodge and I was looking forward to restoring it to the best that my budget would allow! :D

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/CSXside2.jpg

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/CSXside.jpg

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/CSXgrill.jpg

During the fall and winter I picked up a 2.5 turbo caravan for $300 and Sold it to the junkyard for $130 so $170 for motor and lots of other needed parts!! :D

I spent many hours with the help of my dad rebuilding the motor.
-New pistons, rings, and bearings.
-I had a valve job and the head resurfaced.
-Removed Balance Shafts.

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/20090002mb.jpg

Motor was done but now comes time to repair the minor exterior flaws.

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/DSCN1427.jpg

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/DSCN1240.jpg

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/DSCN1239.jpg

By spring the motor had been installed and I had fixed most of the major exterior flaws!
I got it all done just in time for my High school car show! :thumb:

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/DSCN1438.jpg

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/DSCN1439.jpg

The interior was dirty but once I cleaned it up I found it to be in great condition for a car with 178k miles!! :eyebrows:
http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/DSCN1245.jpg

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/DSCN1250.jpg

[bakes]

Sweet ride!!!

[Dan15]

I spent the summer racing at Rocky Mountain Raceway.
Started with my first run being a 16.6@83mph with 14psi and Got it down to 14.6@94.6mph with 16psi.

Heres the entire story if anyone is interested in reading it! :thumb:

http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42709

[Dan15]

Sweet ride!!!

Hey Thanx! :D

[Dan15]

Well my addiction to speed had just begun so I spent my cold (raceless) winter trying to think of ways to go even faster!

I was first just thinking FMIC, Alky Injection, and more boost. Nothing too big but enough to hopefully get into the 13's.

And then my plans all went to heck. :evil:
My brother really wanted a custom intake for his van and I could use one for my car as well so we gathered some one-piece and V6 intakes (for the big elbows) and this is what we ended up with!

Here its painted and ready for install!
http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/CSX-Transformation028.jpg

Here's more pics if anyone is interested! http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45212
I know my welds aren't very consistent and its not the prettiest custom intake you've seen but hey I learned to TIG weld a week before making this and i'm only 18 so dont criticize too much! :o

My only goal in this intake was custom intake air flow>stock intake air flow! :thumb:

Well a few weeks ago my $40 turbo (off of a shelby lancer with 150k miles) started smoking a little when it got really wound up. I started looking for another stock turbo. But then I got reading about the Holsets and well it looks like it got me into trouble! ha ha :evil:

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/CSX-Transformation010.jpg

Holset HE341 off of a 03' Dodge Cummins with 64k miles for $250 shipped!

[Dan15]

Rx2Mazda has a good thread on the Holset conversion and it's helped me a lot so far! http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30380

I figured I'd post what I'm doing as well!

First off I removed the WG bracket with a Hacksaw. I will reposition it later when I'm fitting it on the car.

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/CSX-Transformation029.jpg

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/CSX-Transformation030.jpg

I have lots more to do and will keep updating as I get them done!
Here's a partial list of what I need to do.
-Port WG hole
-Make custom DP
-Reposition WG bracket
-Reclock turbo to fit my car.

[omni_840]

Looking good!

I like the white wheels:nod:

[1BADVAN]

Sweet! looks like a ton of work that is paying off! not bad for a first car!

[rx2mazda]

Sweet, I love PLOG's!

[BadAssPerformance]

Nice project :thumb: I'm guessing the grill and hood are off an '87?

[cordes]

Wow, that is a lot of progress in such a short period of time. Nice work.

[83Shelby]

Hey,what'd you use on the valve cover to get that polished look?

[turbokid]

THat is a sweet looking CSX!
And good work on it forsure!
Q

[Vigo]

Wow, im LOVING the car. I think a csx-t is tops for p-bodies i would want to own.

[CoolV300C]

Nice work. Lots of progress in a short time. Like the white wheels!

[Dan15]

Nice project :thumb: I'm guessing the grill and hood are off an '87?
Grill yes 87'. Hood- We actually found an 88' hood in our collection of parts! :thumb:

Wow, that is a lot of progress in such a short period of time. Nice work.

Nice work. Lots of progress in a short time. Like the white wheels!

I started fall of 08' I just put off starting a project log until now! Is that still considered a short time?
Thanx for all the compliments everyone!!

I've liked the white rims ever since I saw the Birthday Car!! :love:


Hey,what'd you use on the valve cover to get that polished look?

Paint stripper and then A LOT of hours hand sanding and polishing!
This was before I found out some easier ways.... Oh well :o

[blhlfam]

another cool thing about this car is his Uncle and cousins use to own this car then sold it and it passed through several owners, till it was rescued and resurrected. I just hope his transmission holds up to that turbo :o 520's do ok stock but I think he better have the tow dolley close when he starts running the big turbo it is really a shame that the underside of the car is so rusty, but hey it makes the car lighter!

[rx2mazda]

shame that the underside of the car is so rusty, but hey it makes the car lighter!

:confused::banghead:Should have fixed that before the grill, the grill didn't have cancer - just a fracture!

I learned that lesson the hard way with these cars. My car was very salvageable when I first bought it, should have patched the floors first thing! Those small holes turned very big in a relatively short time and I had to junk the R/T. Live and learn. +1 to a tranny upgrade

[Dan15]

:confused::banghead:Should have fixed that before the grill, the grill didn't have cancer - just a fracture!

I learned that lesson the hard way with these cars. My car was very salvageable when I first bought it, should have patched the floors first thing! Those small holes turned very big in a relatively short time and I had to junk the R/T. Live and learn. +1 to a tranny upgrade

Ya I wanted to fix the rust but it's already pretty extensive! I figure I could find a clean p body and tAke the entire floorpan or . . . Just swap all the Shelby stuff to the rust free car! A lot less work for the same price. I realize it wouldn't be an "actual" Shelby but it'd be good enough for me!

[1FastCSX289]

Looking good, man. Nice work!!

[Vigo]

Ya I wanted to fix the rust but it's already pretty extensive! I figure I could find a clean p body and tAke the entire floorpan or . . . Just swap all the Shelby stuff to the rust free car! A lot less work for the same price. I realize it wouldn't be an "actual" Shelby but it'd be good enough for me!

I feel the same way.. Its probably cheaper to buy a rust free shadow (of which i have scrapped 2) in a rust-free place for 0-$300 than it would be in materials, TIME AND LABOR to fix one thats very far gone.

Although im doing quarter panels on both sides of my 90 van, but its as much because i want to learn as it is to get rid of the rust.. Ive already scrapped 2 rust free vans in the past year, own another one right now (89 grand 3.0).. Eh maybe im crazy!

[Dan15]

Well its been quite a while since I posted but lots of progress has been made this last week!!!
I spent all the time up to last Monday gathering parts and painting my dad's Shelby Dakota! (This definitely made me realize I do not want to be a body guy) But it turned out really nice and I'll get some pics of that soon too!

But after finally getting all the needed parts and finishing the truck i was able to move on to more important things!! :D

Monday morning I pulled onto the lift in my high school auto shop and pulled off the head and then took the old 14.6sec $60 T2 turbo off and began modifying everything to work with the HOLSET!! :nod:


For those that don't already know. You have to drill and tap 4 new stud holes and move your studs to match up with the Holset turbine inlet.

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/CSX-Transformation007.jpg


After that it bolts right up as long as you've reclocked the housings. Don't forget to reclock the center section as well. Because the oil inlet and outlets need to be as close to straight up and down as possible.

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/holset-1.jpg

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/holset1.jpg

[Dan15]

After setting the head on there were a few changes that I realized I needed to make.

First off I had the compressor outlet pointing pretty much straight up but if you rotate it counter clockwise towards the head it fits right down there really well.

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/holset2.jpg

This actually solved two problems because it opens up a larger area for me to weld the WG bracket on to. :thumb:


My second problem came when I began making the downpipe. After welding the 4"-3" reducer on I realized that there isn't much room to make that turn because of the Power Steering pump. :banghead:

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/csxt4.jpg

So I made a Run to the Junk Yard and Got the new plastic reservoir style power steering pump, bracket, and pressure line. It gave me a lot more room and solved my problem!! :banana-mario:

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/csxt6.jpg


Here it is with my custom intake and turbo bolted on and ready for the head to be torqued down. I know the Intake isn't pretty but it was my first experience with TIG welding and it will definitely flow more air than the stock intake!

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/CSX-Transformation/csxt8.jpg

[Dan15]

I stayed at school till 4:30 on friday to get it running and it started the first try!! :clap:

I ended up towing it home because of not having any intercooler piping hooked up, the PS belt was loose, no brakes because vacuum lines were all in pieces and I don't have the vacuum fitting on the back of the intake anymore.

But friday night at home I cleaned up all of my vacuum lines, tightened the PS belt, and found the homes for all the bolts that I still had left over!! :p

Spent 12 hours friday but it was definitely worth it!! :D

Now I better have this thing tuned and ready to go for Mopars at The Strip on the 26th!! :dancingbana:

Any predictions as to what times I will run??

I'm planning on only running 18psi or less depending on how much power it makes. I don't want to blow my tranny the first run! :p

[Vigo]

Wow, congratulations!! it's gonna be fun..

[turbokid]

18 psi on the Holset it gonna be ridiculous LMAO!
But looks really good =)
I aint gonna guess on time, I always bite myself in the --- LMAO!

[badandy]

Giving some love for the CSX-T. Congrats on making the car really look nice in such a short time :clap:

Question: Is your head still stock? I'm predicting some terrible lag with that Holset if so.

[Dan15]

Giving some love for the CSX-T. Congrats on making the car really look nice in such a short time :clap:

Question: Is your head still stock? I'm predicting some terrible lag with that Holset if so.

Thanx for the compliments!! :)

Yes my head is stock. I'm sort of worried about the lag as well. But I believe with open 3" DP, the bigger intake, and a 2.5in Intercooler Piping it shouldn't be too bad!

The biggest thing that will help my turbo lag will be this!! :evil:

http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23368&page=44

Check out post #880! I'm running these cals and tuning it myself.

[jl93sundance]

Question: Is your head still stock? I'm predicting some terrible lag with that Holset if so.




Yes my head is stock.


:yuck:, I think you better wait till you can get your head,intake(if not already done) and exhaust manifold ported and bigger valves before attempting to use the holset.

What injectors are you planning on using?

Other than that looking good, good luck!

[Dan15]

:yuck:, I think you better wait till you can get your head,intake(if not already done) and exhaust manifold ported and bigger valves before attempting to use the holset.

What injectors are you planning on using?

Other than that looking good, good luck!

Well porting your intake really doesn't do much on a stock head. Its only 1+mm. But it would be nice to have a ported head and big valves. My exhaust manifold is ported by TU.

Well I'm not waiting! :D Its already running with the Holset!!

I have some +40's. :)

Thanx!


-Daniel

[Dan15]

It'll be interesting to see what happens!! :D

[jl93sundance]

It'll be interesting to see what happens!! :D

definitely! let us know how long it takes to spool up.

[1BADVAN]

idk why people think it will take forever to spool? It has about a. 63 A/R hot side which ain't that big yes it will lag but some people say they spool better than hybrids

[Dan15]

Hopefully I'll be able to tell everyone how it spools by Saturday! Just waiting on some intercooler couplers!!!

[badandy]

Well porting your intake really doesn't do much on a stock head. Its only 1+mm. But it would be nice to have a ported head and big valves. My exhaust manifold is ported by TU.

Well I'm not waiting! :D Its already running with the Holset!!

I have some +40's. :)

Thanx!


-Daniel
Believe it or not as terrible as our heads are they still out flow out intakes. Yes...even the 2 piece intake in more restrictive than a stock head.

[badandy]

idk why people think it will take forever to spool? It has about a. 63 A/R hot side which ain't that big yes it will lag but some people say they spool better than hybrids
That's not the whole story though. Now...let it be known I'm not up on my Holsets (GT30R here) but isn't the turbine equivalent to like a stage 3 wheel? Even a .50 trim stage 2 wheel in a .63 housing was bad for lag on my all stock 2.2...however turbonators anti-lag wasn't the cats meow then either....so...

[Dan15]

Well my 1st Holset NEVER spooled but thats because I was an idiot and forgot to tighten down the turbine Vband so that turbo is toast. :o


But I can definitely spool the 2nd one that I just got on last night!!! :banana-mario:

More to come once I get it tuned better!!

I'll hopefully be taking it to the track next Saturday :D

[1BADVAN]

Well my 1st Holset NEVER spooled but thats because I was an idiot and forgot to tighten down the turbine Vband so that turbo is toast. :o


But I can definitely spool the 2nd one that I just got on last night!!! :banana-mario:

More to come once I get it tuned better!!

I'll hopefully be taking it to the track next Saturday :D

when i first rode in it i thought it was still a small turbo, it spooled very easily :)

[forcedfedmopar]

so how is it. did you get it all together or what?

[Dan15]

so how is it. did you get it all together or what?

I've got the A/F's pretty good. They sit around 11.4 a little rich but i'd rather be safe than sorry.

I'm gonna add some timing to see if that will make more power because it pulls good but not amazing or anything. I'm only running 16psi so that might be a problem!

I have a 30x12x2.5 FMIC with 2.5in piping that I need to install to help flow because I think the 2.25in piping and stock TIII intercooler might restrict just a little bit!

I'm also going to install a 3" CAI because I currently have a 4-2.5in. reducer on there... :o

Then we'll see if that changes anything.

If neither the timing or the flow stuff helps I'll try running +20psi because I hear that the Holsets really shine above 20! :thumb:

[turbokid]

Yes you arent even making the turbo happy at 16 psi.
A ported head would make it much better =P

[forcedfedmopar]

how does the car perform with the holset. When are you seeing boost? how fast does it hit? how does it feel compared to the TII you had?

im curious because i have a holset that im putting on my glh and was wondering how it would perform just throwing it on before doing the head work.

[1BADVAN]

how does the car perform with the holset. When are you seeing boost? how fast does it hit? how does it feel compared to the TII you had?

im curious because i have a holset that im putting on my glh and was wondering how it would perform just throwing it on before doing the head work.
See post #38 :nod: I honestly did not notice a slower spool! im sure it is a little but as a rider in the car i thought he had the same turbo in it as he didn't tell me he switched it.

It does make the 2.5" straight piped exhaust WAY LOUD but its awesome

[forcedfedmopar]

See post #38 :nod: I honestly did not notice a slower spool! im sure it is a little but as a rider in the car i thought he had the same turbo in it as he didn't tell me he switched it.

It does make the 2.5" straight piped exhaust WAY LOUD but its awesome

you noticed no power difference at 16 psi?

[1BADVAN]

not yet but we/he needs to get bigger than 2.5" intake pipe and stock IC and 2.25" IC pipes then we will really see

[Dan15]

how does the car perform with the holset. When are you seeing boost? how fast does it hit? how does it feel compared to the TII you had?

im curious because i have a holset that im putting on my glh and was wondering how it would perform just throwing it on before doing the head work.


you noticed no power difference at 16 psi?

It performs pretty dang good. The powerband is different than before, but I think that might also be due to the custom intake. I see full boost by 4200 at the latest, and it doesn't hit like the TII turbo. Its a lot smoother transition so it pulls way hard but doesn't break the tires loose. Idk how else to explain it but it feels really good and helps with traction because I used to hit boost hard with my TII and i'd always break loose and now it just sticks me in my seat! :D

It'd probably be worth throwing it on because you'd be able to get all the work done now (custom DP, exhaust manifold holes, etc.) and then you'd be able to tell us how much a ported head helps!! :thumb:

Power difference at 16psi . . . well its hard to say because like I said above its a different feeling then before. Check out this thread to see what TurboShad says about turbo efficiency ranges!

http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45659&page=8

Like 1BADVAN said I put my filter directly on my turbo (I cut a 4" hole in the end of it :o) But it helped a TON!! Spooled faster and more power! I need to add a little more fuel now because it leaned everything out.

Tomorrow I'm putting my 30x12x2.5 FMIC and 2.5in piping on and i'll let you know how big of a difference this makes!! :thumb:

[Dan15]

And even if the Holset doesn't make a ton more power I needed a new turbo anyways and these turbos are CHEAP!!

[forcedfedmopar]

It performs pretty dang good. The powerband is different than before, but I think that might also be due to the custom intake. I see full boost by 4200 at the latest, and it doesn't hit like the TII turbo. Its a lot smoother transition so it pulls way hard but doesn't break the tires loose. Idk how else to explain it but it feels really good and helps with traction because I used to hit boost hard with my TII and i'd always break loose and now it just sticks me in my seat! :D

It'd probably be worth throwing it on because you'd be able to get all the work done now (custom DP, exhaust manifold holes, etc.) and then you'd be able to tell us how much a ported head helps!! :thumb:

Power difference at 16psi . . . well its hard to say because like I said above its a different feeling then before. Check out this thread to see what TurboShad says about turbo efficiency ranges!

http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45659&page=8

Like 1BADVAN said I put my filter directly on my turbo (I cut a 4" hole in the end of it :o) But it helped a TON!! Spooled faster and more power! I need to add a little more fuel now because it leaned everything out.

Tomorrow I'm putting my 30x12x2.5 FMIC and 2.5in piping on and i'll let you know how big of a difference this makes!! :thumb:

Well im doing my new trans and headgasket this weekend. I could put my holset on at the same time but im planning on making custom manifolds at the same time to help compliment the big valve/ported head and holset:evil:. so because of this i would have to make different downpipes and I/C plumbing twice. but if you were going to tell me that it was a night and day difference i would throw it on now. but im going to just stick with my orignal plan.

keep the updates coming:thumb:

[jl93sundance]

I see full boost by 4200 at the latest, and it doesn't hit like the TII turbo.



yikes very slow spool up!:o

[Dan15]

Well im doing my new trans and headgasket this weekend. I could put my holset on at the same time but im planning on making custom manifolds at the same time to help compliment the big valve/ported head and holset:evil:. so because of this i would have to make different downpipes and I/C plumbing twice. but if you were going to tell me that it was a night and day difference i would throw it on now. but im going to just stick with my orignal plan.

keep the updates coming:thumb:

Ok so I put My FMIC on with the 2.5in piping and the first time I took off it was ridiculously fast but then it got warmed up more and wasn't as fast. Idk what it was but i'm hoping I'll be able to get the tune setup again so its as fast as it was at first.

But because of having to make the stuff TWICE i'd just wait until you have your custom manifolds done! I mean it was good but not a night and day difference like you were saying.

My plan is to mess with the tune a little bit, add some timing and a little more fuel (i was running slightly lean) to see if it helps. Then i'm going to run it this saturday at the local test & tune how it is and see how it does. I believe it will easily be running 14's.

Then next week i'm going to setup my alky injection and see how it likes 21-24psi! :evil:

There has been talk about the efficiency range of these turbos being in the mid 20psi range so I guess i'll see if it becomes the beast i was hoping for!

Don't worry i'll keep the updates coming! :thumb:


yikes very slow spool up!:o

It spools faster now with the filter right on the turbo and the FMIC. Not sure what rpm but i'll watch it more carefully and let you know. Maybe i'll get an in car video too.

[forcedfedmopar]

Ok so I put My FMIC on with the 2.5in piping and the first time I took off it was ridiculously fast but then it got warmed up more and wasn't as fast. Idk what it was but i'm hoping I'll be able to get the tune setup again so its as fast as it was at first.



no pics?

[1BADVAN]

Here is a crappy cell phone pic of the Air filter on the turbo
http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/photopost/data/500/medium/Photo-0110.jpg

[Dan15]

Ok so I put My FMIC on with the 2.5in piping and the first time I took off it was ridiculously fast but then it got warmed up more and wasn't as fast. Idk what it was but i'm hoping I'll be able to get the tune setup again so its as fast as it was at first.



no pics?

I'll have some up in a bit! :thumb:

[Dan15]

I decided to do it this way because the only other way i could think of would be to come in through the fenders like turboshad.


The bottom of the intercooler is even with the bottom of the radiator support.

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/FMIC/FMIC5.jpg

The radiator is on the left intercooler on the right. Can't really see it though.
http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/FMIC/FMIC2.jpg


http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/FMIC/FMIC4.jpg


Oh and here's my air filter setup. Not really a "cold air" intake but it flows a lot more air! :thumb:

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/csx-t/FMIC/FMIC3.jpg

And if you look carefully you can see my WG bracket that bolts to my head! :D

[CSX153]

whats the difference between your turbo and an HY35?

[Wayne]

The reason it runs so good the first time is the temps aren't very high in the engine compartment. The second pull is just sucking in hot air. I had my airfilter just like that. After I moved it out of the engine compartment it pulled the same every pull.

Wayne

[Dan15]

whats the difference between your turbo and an HY35?

I think you figured this out, but if not pm me and i can help you out! Or check the Knowledge center if you haven't read the Holset section! :thumb:


The reason it runs so good the first time is the temps aren't very high in the engine compartment. The second pull is just sucking in hot air. I had my airfilter just like that. After I moved it out of the engine compartment it pulled the same every pull.

Wayne

That makes sense. Do you have pics of how you ran your piping??

[CSX153]

ya, i posted that before i asked you in person lol